A great view of the outside through your windows is an important part of the room. Picture windows are beautiful, but if they, like any window, develop drafts, your energy bill’s in for a spike. When you do feel cool spots in your home, try these methods to detect them so you can figure out what to do about them.
Visual
First, examine the window both inside the building and out. Look for gaps in the frame that shouldn’t be there and check for lack of caulking. Missing or cracked caulk should be replaced, but you may have to wait for a warm day to do that. Check temperature recommendations before applying more caulk.
Temperature Test
When you substantially adjust your temperature to the opposite of what it is outside, you’ll be more easily able to spot leaks. If it’s cold outside, turn the heat up, and if it’s hot outside, turn up the air-conditioning.
This change in temperature will encourage the air to move more forcefully through whatever gaps there are. This makes it easier for you to feel the hot or cool spot with your hand. Another way to detect the problem is to move your face close to the frame and listen for the whistle of air moving through a tight space.
Thermal Imaging
If you have a thermal imaging camera (or are willing to rent one), use of it is an option, short of tearing the walla part. By finding cool spots around the window, you’ll find where there are most likely leaks. If nothing comes up, you have no leaks to worry about. If you have a home energy audit done, they should do thermal imaging as a part of the process. Make sure you ask about this before you schedule one.
The Wall
If the wall around the window is ripped up for whatever reason, search for mold or water damage. Moisture leaves a mark on wood, and any damaged wood needs to be repaired or replaced. Damaged or deteriorated wood can be an air leak source. By sealing that leak, you’re also taking care of what’s causing the draft.
Windows can look different at different angles, so be sure to do all of these tests, both inside and outside. Once you locate the problem, you can find ways to fix it and regain the savings that you originally had.
It may be that the cause of your room drafts is that your window frames no longer sit snugly within their openings, or that the windows themselves have warped due to temperature changes. If either of these is the case, then the only real permanent fix for drafty rooms and air leaks around windows is to replace those old windows with well-fitting, energy-efficient new ones.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
